Siope 23

1 Pea naʻe toki tali ʻe Siope, ʻo ne pehē,

Then Job answered and said,

2 “ʻOku kona ʻaupito ʻa ʻeku mamahi, ʻio, ʻi he ʻaho ni: pea mamafa lahi hoku tā ʻi heʻeku faʻa toʻe.

Yes, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.

3 Taumaiā ke u ʻilo ʻae potu te u maʻu ai ia! Ke u aʻu atu ki hono nofoʻanga!

Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?

4 Te u fakamatala ʻeku meʻa ʻi hono ʻao, ʻo fakafonu hoku ngutu ʻaki ʻae ngaahi lea fakamamafa.

And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.

5 Te u ʻilo ai ʻae ngaahi lea te ne tali ʻaki au, pea u faʻa ʻilo ʻaia te ne lea ʻaki mai kiate au.

And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.

6 He te ne fai mo au ʻaki hono mālohi lahi? ʻIkai: ka te ne ʻai ʻae mālohi kiate au.

Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;

7 ‌ʻE faʻa alea ai mo ia ʻae māʻoniʻoni; pea ʻe fakamoʻui taʻengata ai au mei hoku fakamaau.

for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgement to an end.

8 “Vakai, ʻoku ou ʻalu atu, ka ʻoku ʻikai ʻi ai ia; pea ʻoku ou foki mai, kae ʻikai te u ʻiloʻi ia:

For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?

9 Ki he toʻohema, ʻoku ne ngāue ai, kae ʻikai te u sio ki ai: pea ʻoku ne fufū ia ʻi he toʻomataʻu, ke ʻoua naʻaku ʻilo ia:

When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].

10 Ka ʻoku ne ʻilo ʻae hala ʻoku ou ʻalu ai: pea ka ʻosi ʻene ʻahiʻahiʻi au, te u hao mai ʻo hangē ko e koula.

For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.

11 Kuo puke maʻu ʻe hoku vaʻe ki hono lakaʻanga, pea kuo u ʻalu ʻi hono hala, ʻo ʻikai afe.

And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,

12 Pea naʻe ʻikai te u foki mai mei he fekau ʻa hono fofonga: kuo u fufū ʻi hoku loto ʻae ngaahi lea ʻa hono fofonga.

neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.

13 Ka ʻoku pehē ai pe ia pea ko hai te ne liliu ia? Pea ko ia ʻoku tokanga ki ai hono finangalo, ʻe fai pē ʻe ia.

And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.

14 He te ne fakakakato hoku ʻinasi kuo tuʻutuʻuni: pea ʻoku lahi ʻae meʻa pehē ʻiate ia.

15 Ko ia ʻoku ou manavahē ai ʻi hono ʻao: pea kau ka fakakaukau, ʻoku ou ilifia kiate ia.

Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.

16 He ʻoku fakamolū hoku loto ʻe he ʻOtua, pea ʻoku fakamamahiʻi au ʻe he Māfimafi:

But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.

17 Koeʻuhi naʻe ʻikai tuʻusi au ʻi he teʻeki hoko ʻae fakapoʻuli, ʻo ʻikai ʻufiʻufi ʻe ia ʻae poʻuli mei hoku mata.

For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.